Sin-é facts for kids
A band playing at the last Sin-é in 2007
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| Location | New York City |
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| Owner | Shane Doyle |
| Opened | 1989–96; 2000; 2003-07 (different versions) |
Sin-é (pronounced "shin-AY") was a famous music club in New York City. Its name comes from the Irish language and means "that's it." This club helped many musicians become well-known in the early 1990s. It was a special place where artists could share their music and connect with fans.
Contents
History of Sin-é
The First Sin-é Café
The very first Sin-é was a small café located at 122 St. Mark's Place in a part of Manhattan called the East Village. It opened in 1989 and was started by Shane Doyle, who was an immigrant from Ireland. The café served food, coffee, and drinks.
In its early days, Sin-é was a relaxed place where people would read poetry and play acoustic music. One popular event was "The Clumsy Cabaret," a late-night gathering on Saturday nights. Many musicians, especially those from New York's unique "anti-folk" music scene, would come to play after their other shows. The music sessions were very natural and creative. Many young writers, photographers, artists, and designers also spent time there. Later, as the place became more popular, performers played for tips from the audience.
Many famous musicians performed at Sin-é, sometimes without planning it. These included Sinéad O'Connor, Jeff Buckley, Marianne Faithfull, and Shane MacGowan. The "stage" was simply an area where tables were moved away from a wall.
This friendly atmosphere and the regular audience helped create a lively music scene. The first Sin-é closed in 1996. A famous recording, Live at Sin-é (1993), was Jeff Buckley's first release. A larger album, Live at Sin-é (Legacy Edition), came out in 2003.
The Second Sin-é
In 2000, Shane Doyle opened a bigger version of Sin-é. This new club could hold about 380 people and was located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. However, this club only stayed open for a few months. It closed because of some issues and complaints from people living nearby.
The Final Sin-é Club
The last Sin-é was located at 150 Attorney Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In March 2003, NY Magazine called it the "Best New Venue." One year later, in March 2004, the same magazine gave Sin-é another award: "Best Place to See a Local Band's First Gig." This was because it helped new bands like The Seconds and The Secret Machines get started.
The club and an attached bar closed on April 2, 2007. This happened partly because of changes in the area, which made it too expensive to run the club.
Images for kids
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A band performing at the final incarnation of Sin-é in 2007
